Monthly Archives: May 2014
Maker Spaces, Design Thinking & STE(A)M
Ideas in the making…. Just some thoughts
Creating a Maker Space is just one way that we can connect what happens in the library to the real world.
There are many versions of Maker Spaces. In reality it depends on many variables such as money, space and time.
The Horizon Report 2014 (preview) has identified some topics that are clearly relevant and met by the use of Maker Spaces, Design Thinking and STE(A)M approaches to Innovative Teaching and Learning.
- Significant Challenges Impeding K-12 Ed Tech Adoption
- Difficult Challenges: Those that we understand but for which solutions are elusive
- Complex Thinking and Communication
- Integrating Personalized Learning
- Solvable Challenges: Those that we understand and know how to solve
- Creating Authentic Learning Opportunities
See the MAKER SPACE@THE LIBRARY PINTEREST for some curated resources on this topic.
DIIGO LINKS – MAKERSPACES
Like most things, being creative and open minded can allow you achieve success and value add for our students.
I am looking at ways we might do this as SALC. The Australian Curriculum – Technologies allows us to do this authentically and to fulfill the requirements of the curriculum (win win!).
In the past students have participated in exploratory sessions with programming, designing apps, game making and digital story telling. I would like to further scaffold this with a design thinking approach, where the students design their own inquiry, rather than it being a structured teacher led experience.
Some ideas:
GET UNBORED
PS: This week I visited PIMPAMA STATE SECONDARY COLLEGE and saw their design thinking in action. Looking forward to seeing the next stage of their journey.
Design Minds EXPLAIN from State Library of Queensland on Vimeo.
CONNECT TO READING #BOOKWEEK2014 WITH TWITTER
TWITTER & BOOK WEEK
I have posted a request on twitter for people to post their responses to this question “What is your favourite quote from a children’s book?” I intend to have these displayed as a tweet cloud on my interactive projector during lunchtimes. See example book quotes HERE .
If interested please retweet the tweet and/or post your book quote using the hashtag #bookweek2014 .
What is your favourite quote from a children’s book? #OZTL #kidlit #kidlitchat @cbcaqld Will use to create Book Week activity Pls RT
— Julia Boulton (@julia_boulton) May 29, 2014
What is your favourite quote from a children’s book? #OZTL #kidlit #kidlitchat @cbcaqld Will use to create Book Week activity Pls RT
— Julia Boulton (@julia_boulton) May 29, 2014
TWITTER TOOLS TO VISUALIZE THE TWEETS
See VISIBLE TWEETS and TWITTERFALL as two possible tools that will allow you to display the #bookweek2014 hashtag.
RESOURCING THE CURRICULUM
This resources curated below are to support teachers to locate resources to teach students about THE RESEARCHING PROCESS and some of the resources that we have at St Andrews in the Junior School.
The resources provided for teachers and students include:
- the research process
- researching tools
- referencing and academic honesty
- and links to the units of inquiry
- curated materials specific to the units of inquiry
- use of the library management system (Oliver) to support reading through the creation of reading lists and materials
Other pages that may be useful are:
INFORMATION LITERACY – WIKISPACES
SEARCHING THE INTERNET – WIKISPACES
RESEARCHING (VIRTUAL LIBRARY)
Digital Technology resources using Storify
Diigo Digital Technologies weblinks
Join my Digital Technologies Diigo group.
Resources shared to this diigo group are resources to support the teaching and learning in the Technologies curriculum.
New members are welcome.
ART APPS FROM EDSHELF
Making Connections with apps
Making connections….
with what we do in the JS Library and what is possible in the classroom.
I believe that FOTOBABBLE is an excellent tool for Lower Primary classrooms as it is simple to use as it uses image and audio to create a shareable moment.
It is also web browser friendly, iPad friendly (using an iPhone app) and free!
This is an example of a fotobabble about new resources in the library and the connections to the PYP.
This tutorial about using FOTOBABBLE in the classroom explain the features, as well as some uses for FOTOBABLE in the classroom.
National Simultaneous Storytime
Tomorrow is National Simultaneous Storytime where students around Australia read/listen to the same book.
The book is Too Many Elephants (shortlisted last year). We have three hard copies if you would like to borrow one to read to your students tomorrow. Alternatively watch the video below or the view book trailer. ALSO, the book is also translated into other languages – including Japanese (perfect!).
Book Trailer
Too Many Elephants being read Jane Kennedy (scroll down to the video)
Audio books will be available in the following languages courtesy of SBS Radio.
• Arabic
• Cantonese
• French
• German
• Greek
• Hindi
• Italian
• Japanese
• Mandarin
• Punjabi
• Swahili
• Somali
• Vietnamese
Have fun!
Show me how!
Year 6 have been learning the process to create a presentation using the Show Me app or the Explain Everything app. These are excellent tools that will be useful to help prepare for the Exhibition later this year.See below for the first two students who have submitted their tutorial or presentation.
See the ICLT4ME Student Reviewed Apps for more examples.
More will be added to our WONDER WALL(s) in the JS Library as the students complete them.
These display spaces in the JS Library are Showcasing student work and reflections, or support resources for the UOIs. They are activated by QR codes and the Aurasma app.
PREZI